roughly smacked / handled my rooster

[Coops Dad]

Blacking out with rage. Your problem isn't the rooster.

It doesn't sound like OP blacked out with rage; sounds more like OP reacted with a physical intervention that she wasn't accustomed to feeling. My wife used to be a total pacifist until our son was born and an overly friendly stranger attempted to touch him while they were shopping. My wife said she felt like she was having an out of body experience because she saw her own hand intercept the stranger's hand, roughly shoving it away as she interposed herself between the stranger and the stroller. She'd never thought she could do something like that until something she loved more deeply than life itself was in "danger".

My wife, today, is a legit badass who wouldn't hesitate to snatch up the 12-gauge if her chickens were being menaced... or if an unfamiliar car starts up the driveway. We live out in the county a ways with a 1/4 mile long driveway, and our local deputy let us know that a 911 call might not get a patrol on scene for up to 30 minutes depending on where the deputy is when the call comes in.

 

[Nyhillbillies]

Thank you, Shadrack, for sharing your experiences and thoughts!!

 

[babychickens321]

If a chicken pecks me, I slap it, or at least try to slap it. Many times I'm not quick enough

Part of the reason you got so angry in this situation is that you don't have enough power.
There is good power and bad power. The good kind helps you protect yourself and others.

So, in this situation, you are trying to stay evenly matched with the rooster - he pecks you, you "peck" at him. That is ineffective and it's going to spiral until you lose your temper again. Then you'll feel guilty. You'll try to be nice to him, he will take advantage, and you'll lose your temper again.

Forget about being evenly matched. "Speak softly and carry a big stick"
You need to rise up and take your place as the human in this relationship. Instead of fighting his way, completely outwit him so it does not come to blows again.
One of the main indications humans are so smart is that we can use tools. A large rake or pitchfork really shouts at a chicken that you are stronger than him, especially because it can be extended away from your body in any direction.

I use a giant plastic rake with the tines facing me so I don't poke anyone, to herd my birds. None of the boys would ever think of crossing me. I don't touch them with it or move quickly which would scare them, simply extending it away from my body tells the birds not to try to duck around me so I have some control of where they go. Holding it out to the side so the plastic tines are horizontal makes it resemble a turkey sized bird, then twisting the pole so the top of the "bird" waves forward and back seems to be all the encouragement needed.
It does require some patience and you would never want to hit anyone with it (ever). But if your rooster gets more aggressive with you, it would help hold him off.

alright, will make sure not to do that! thats a clever idea ill remember that but hopefully will never have to use it

 

[babychickens321]

Don't feel guilty is the first step.
I've swiped roosters when they were in the air attacking hard enough to propel them backwards a few yards. I don't grab them in anger, but sure, I'll smack a rooster intent on doing me harm.
But, the secret is not to lose ones cool and not react in anger.
I respect the right of any creature to attack me if it feels under threat. I'll even cut cockerels some slack when it comes to adolescent behaviour, which includes trying to fight anything they think they might beat. They do learn, usually from a senior rooster, or even a senior hen that they've ****** up big time by pissing off Bucket Boy (me).
I'll swat them as well.
What I don't do which I have no doubt I'll read about later in this thread is kill them, try to dominate them, or otherwise mistreat them.

I don't know how to say this because the word I'll use has slightly different meanings relative to age and culture.
Roosters demand respect. It doesn't matter much whether one thinks they deserve it, or not.
Years of watching free range roosters led me to have enormous respect for them. Most work hard for their hens. Many die trying to protect their hens. I've found them to be intelligent and trainable.
The simple truth is many chicken keepers are just not interested in putting in the work, frustration and inconvenience of coming to a working relationship with a rooster.

This is where you went wrong. The slap is fine but this isn't. It's part of the roosters job to lead his hens to roost. Some roosters are strangely fussy about who enters the coop and in which order; as are some senior hens.
You don't mention a light so I assume it is dark in the coop. The rooster was probably trying to peck your hand in the dark. If I stick my hand in a dark coop of just hens fumbling around, I'll get pecked.

Relax and next time you stick your hand in a drak coop trying to interfere in the roosters business, wear gloves and eye protection

thanks a lot, your response was very reassuring. ill try to not lose my anger, i feel really annoyed if they peck me (to attack)
And i do tend to stick my hand inside, trying to pet everyone to sleep because they dont run away and are so sweet. but i wont next time

 

[Sussex19]

The other day I went in to my cockerels (he's still a cockerel, but fully grown) coop after dark (which I don't normally do) and he almost attacked me. I think this was because he didn't realizes that it was me, and thought it could be a fox or something. I just spoke to him calmly and blocked him with my foot, and he stopped.
When I'm training a young cockerel, or if an older on needs reminding of his manners, I will chase them around the pen.

 

[Sussex19]

But I do agree with @Mrs. K and if it gets to the point where you can't enjoy your chickens as much as you would like to be able to, for fear of a rooster attack, do see about getting rid of him. I don't like to say this, and I would be devastated if I had to get rid of George, my favorite rooster, but if he became very aggressive then he would have to go.

 

[babychickens321]

The other day I went in to my cockerels (he's still a cockerel, but fully grown) coop after dark (which I don't normally do) and he almost attacked me. I think this was because he didn't realizes that it was me, and thought it could be a fox or something. I just spoke to him calmly and blocked him with my foot, and he stopped.
When I'm training a young cockerel, or if an older on needs reminding of his manners, I will chase them around the pen.

wow thanks! he may have felt threatened with me as well, but i will stay calm as well. thanks for helping!

 

[aart]

And i do tend to stick my hand inside, trying to pet everyone to sleep because they dont run away and are so sweet.

Maybe you should get kittens or puppies instead of chickens?
Really, chickens are not really pettable.
Let them do their thing when they are going to roost, they have their own societal 'rules' and it's best not to interfere with that unless someone is being pinned down and beaten bloody. The RoostTimeRumble is often the most contentious time of the day in chicken land, they need to work it out themselves without you interfering.

basically a box in a conservatory. they sleep in the box which is quite small (and are also moving out by the next week hopefully, conservatories are a really bad place to keep chickens, it stinks up the house if you accidentally open the door on a rainy day)

Show us pics of their housing, please.

Also.....
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

I’ve had both hens and roosters peck me multiple times in the dark. Many chickens, especially dominant hens and roosters, will figure out the roosting situation by pecking everybody else. As long as they aren’t ripping out feathers or drawing blood I don’t consider this to be an issue, it’s a natural behavior. If it really bothers you, try giving them more roosting options, though I would not recommend punishing the rooster for pecking his flock members since it won’t do any good or change anything. The times I’ve been pecked were because the chicken, not being able to see in the dark, thought my hand was another chicken. If you want to avoid being pecked, either don’t put your hands near the rooster at night or wear gloves.

 

[3KillerBs]

If you want to avoid being pecked, either don’t put your hands near the rooster at night or wear gloves.

When I'm handling the birds at night I speak to them constantly so that they know it's me.

My intent is less to avoid being mistaken for an uppity flock member in need of discipline and more to avoid them panicking from mistaking me for a predator.